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Summer 2011 Preview

I’ve separated out this summer season’s anime into 3 categories: “Nom nom nom” (will watch), “Taste Test” (will try), and “Allergy List” (will avoid). Information is taken from Anime News Network and various PVs and CMs, so the details are subject to change.

Nom nom nomAppleseed XIII

Japanese Title: アップルシード XIII（サーティーン）
Genre: Science fiction
Episodes: 13
Producers: Jinni’s Animation Studios, Production I.G.
Thoughts: I have only seen the 2004 movie, Appleseed, but I distinctly remember being awed at the level of animation, as well as surprised at how much I cared for the characters. I’m intrigued about the re-telling of the manga in a full season format, and wish to see more character development for both Deunan and Brialeos. I’ll be avidly looking out for this anime and hoping that the TV series stands up to par to the movie that I saw long ago.

Natsume Yuujinchou SanJapanese Title: 夏目友人帳 参
Genre: Supernatural (this genre always confuses me…how is it different from both sci-fi and fantasy? Someone tell me, please!)
Episodes: 13
Producer: Brains BaseThoughts: I’ve been so far unable to find a PV, CM, or official trailer for this anime. The first two seasons left positive impressions on me, with the first season ranking a 9/10 and the 2nd a 10/10. As the sequel made me fall in love with the story and characters even more than the 1st, I’m looking forward to this 3rd season which will hopefully follow in its predecessors’ steps. My only concern is that I felt the 2nd season did a wonderful job of wrapping up all the conflicts that arose in both the 1st and 2nd. I don’t want this 3rd season to merely be a continuation of the episodic adventures that encompassed all of the original season, but instead one that takes those arcs and strings them together into an overlying conflict which Natsume and Nyanko-sensei must overcome. My biggest desire is for Nyanko-sensei himself to get a lot of screen time: more about his past, his true nature, and what will become of him once he separates from Natsume.

Usagi Drop

Japanese Title: うさぎドロップ
Genre: Comedy, drama
Episodes: 12
Producer: Production I.G.Thoughts: This show kind of reminds me of Aishiteruze Baby, where a high school boy becomes the unexpected guardian of his five-year-old female cousin. While in that case, she was the victim of mother abandonment, Usagi Drop instead has the child as the illegitimate daughter of the main character’s grandfather. I’m drawn to the realistic setting and the soft art style. I can see this being my emotional show of the season.

NO.6

Genre: Science fiction
Episodes: 11
Producer: BONESThoughts: The main reason why this show is on my plan-to-watch list is because of its producer, BONES. They produced my recently reviewed Bounen no Xamdou, as well as my currently watching show, GOSICK. I have enjoyed the shows they’ve produced over the recent years, so it stands to reason that I’ll enjoy this one as well. I’m actually feeling a bit burned out on science fiction, and I don’t really find myself drawn to the characters in the PV, either. The whole notion of a model city also reminds me a bit of Appleseed, and I usually don’t like watching two of the same types of show at the same time.

BLOOD-C

Genre: Action, supernatural
Episodes: 12
Producer: Production I.G.Thoughts: And here we have yet again another anime this season from Production I.G. Here’s to hoping they don’t overdo it this season and let certain shows drop in quality! I, like many others who are interested in this show, am not too familiar with the Blood franchise. The only connections I have to it are the Blood: The Last Vampire anime and live action movies, both of which I found highly entertaining. What catches my interest the most is that the original concept includes CLAMP, who I adore. Works of theirs that I love include xxxHOLiC, Tsubasa Chronicles, Kobato., and Cardcaptor Sakura. If BLOOD-C can equal, or even surpass, these shows, it’ll become one of my favorite bloody supernatural anime.

Dantalian no Shoka

Japanese title: ダンタリアンの書架
Genre: Fantasy
Episodes: 13
Producer: GAINAXThoughts: I love books. I love high fantasy. Throw the two together and create a winner! It starts off looking like your typical British period anime, but quickly introduces teaser scenes of books coming to life. I also like how adorable Dalian is, adorable but also seemingly haughty.

Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu Ni!

Japanese title: バカとテストと召喚獣にっ!
Genre: Comedy, fantasy, romance
Episodes: 13
Producer: SILVER LINKThoughts:The first season defied all of my assumptions and easily became the funniest show of that season, and so I will happily jump into watching this 2nd season, which I expect to also nail my funny bone through this summer. I hope they decide to give us more of the same and don’t ruin the ridiculous humor with some greater plot.

Ikoku Meiro no Croisee

Japanese title: 異国迷路のクロワーゼ
Genre: Historical
Episodes: 12
Producer: SatelightThoughts: What drew me to this show was its art, which uses the same illustrator as the one who worked on GOSICK. Yune’s Japanese clothing looks simply amazing, and I really like the French setting. The female characters are drawn ridiculously cute, and their bright clothing highly contrasts the more neutral colors of their surroundings. What really sold this for me in the end was the closing shot of Yune’s smiling face and shining eyes. They really convey a sense of wonder that I want to feel myself.

Fullmetal Alchemist: Milos no Seinaru Hoshi (Movie)Japanese title: 鋼の錬金術師 嘆きの丘（ミロス）の聖なる星
Genre: Action, comedy, drama, mystery, thriller
Producer: BONESThoughts: BONES did an excellent job with the manga remake, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, an anime I greatly preferred to the 2003, 51-episode predecessor, Fullmetal Alchemist. The original FMA anime series also had a follow up movie, FMA: The Conquerer of Shamballa, which I found dissatisfying in how it created more questions instead of answers. Since I was impressed with how Brotherhood turned out, I again have high hopes for their movie, which will introduce new characters and plot.

Kokuriko-Zaka Kara (Movie)Japanese title: コクリコ坂から
Genre: Historical, comedy
Producer: Studio GhibliThoughts: Uh….duh? I watch pretty much anything made by Studio Ghibli (though I was disappointed in Gedo Senki). The typical Ghibli set-up of innocent girl set in a historical fiction world, though unoriginal, still grabs my interest with the prospects of great characters and art.

Heart no Kuni no Alice (Movie)Japanese title: 劇場版ハートの国のアリス～Wonderful Wonder World～
Genre: Fantasy
Producer: Asahi ProductionThoughts: I’m a huge fan of anything Alice, be it the original texts by Lewis Carroll (Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass); the new video game, Alice: Madness Returns; the Disney animation film; and the Disney live action film. An anime re-imagining of the fanciful, and truly frightening, story answers a lot of my dreams for Carroll’s works.

Taste TestDouble-JJapanese title: だぶるじぇい
Genre: Comedy
Episodes: Unknown
Producer: DLE Inc.Thoughts: A bunch of girls in a school: yes, this scenario is pretty old. What catches my interest with this show is its art style, as well as the idea of a group of friends joining a club with the intention of preserving cultural activities. I will give it a 1-3 episode try before making my final decision.

Yuru Yuri

Japanese title: ゆるゆり
Genre: Comedy
Episodes: 12
Producer: DogakoboThoughts: Despite the fact that this is another all cute-girl cast, I admit to really liking the art. The PV music is also ridiculously adorable and catchy. It looks to be a cross between K-ON! and A Channel, with a set of four female characters and a Tea Ceremony Club turned into a Random Amusement Club. If things go well, this will end up being my moe show for the summer.

Kamisama Dolls

Japanese title: 神様ドォルズ
Genre: Action, drama, supernatural
Episodes: 13
Producer: Brains BaseThoughts: Little girls with big, monster-looking god things…alright. Though the plot elements at a glance seem all over the place, the fact that this is produced by the same group who did Baccano!, Durarara!!, Kuragehime, and Kamichu! gives it a high chance of getting onto my watch list. The art and animation looks nice and clean, as well.

Morita-san wa Mukuchi

Japanese title: 森田さんは無口
Genre: Comedy, slice-of-life
Episodes: 12
Producer: SevenThoughts: Ehhh, I’m not sure why this is on my list since the art style is nothing impressive and the CM gives me nothing to go on for plot. Nelson’s chart synopsis is what caught my eye, that of the main girl being silent not because of shyness, but because of over-thinking. I’m also not too familiar with the producer, so that worries me as well.

THE IDOLM@STER

Japanese title: アイドルマスター
Genre: Comedy
Episodes: 12
Producer: A-1 Pictures Inc.Thoughts: All I know about this is that it comes from a highly popular couple of video games made for the XBOX 360, with a plot to choose a girl and make her a successful idol. This opening sequence has some cute, fun music, and colorful art–both of which I really like. I only wish that the game was available in America so I could play it while also trying out the anime! The short clips from episodes also look silly and entertaining, in a non-ecchi way.

Ro-Kyu-Bu!

Japanese title: ロウきゅーぶ！
Genre: Comedy
Episodes: 12
Producers: Barnum Studio, Project No.9, Studio BlancThoughts: DAWWWWW, little girls and basketball! Okay, the cuteness overload on a serious sport kind of makes me gag, but maybe, just maybe, the show will be able to pull off something interesting, interesting in a good way. I’m not really liking how loli the girls look, especially since some of them have unreasonably large chests. Add that with the scenes of them wearing maid costumes, and I’m afraid of what the first episode will give me.

Kami-sama no Memo-chou

Japanese title: 神様のメモ帳
Genre: Mystery
Episodes: 12
Producer: J.C. StaffThoughts: Pretty much the only pull to this show is the promise of an interesting main character, the detective, hikomori girl, Alice. I like the image of her with her long hair and simple clothes sitting in front of an array of computer monitors and surrounded by stuffed animals. If, however, she turns out to be boring…then this show will quickly get booted.

Mawaru Penguindrum

Japanese title: 輪るピングドラム
Genre: Slice-of-life
Episodes: 24
Producer: Brains BaseThoughts: Random stuff is random. This show looks like it may rival Baka to Test for humor, but the vagueness about the show makes it difficult for me to put it on the will watch list. The animation in this CM is very clean, but is hard to get a read on in some other CMs.

Sacred Seven

Japanese title: セイクリッドセブン
Genre: Action
Episodes: 12
Producer: SunriseThoughts: Flashy action anime have never really interested me, but Sunrise was able to change that with Tiger & Bunny, a show I found surprisingly good. I also am not usually into battle-type shows, which this CV shows to a certain degree. Again, the information on this anime is sparse on details, but I’ll go ahead and give it a few episodes.

Nekogami Yaoyorozu

Japanese title: 猫神やおよろず
Genre: Comedy, supernatural
Episodes: 12
Producer: AIC PLUS+Thoughts: I’m a bit embarrassed having this on my maybe list since it looks blatantly…retarded. BUT! I, against all expectations, like the furriness of Dog Days, and so am now hesitant to slam the door on anime that may look like it. The chibi versions of the cat gods are also pretty irresistible.

Uta no Prince-samaJapanese title: うたの☆プリンスさまっ♪ マジLOVE1000%
Genre: Comedy, romance, Harem
Episodes: 12
Producer: A-1 Pictures Inc.Thoughts: I’m not in the mood for a harem anime at the moment, and not for a long time, either.

Nyanpire the Animation

Japanese title: にゃんぱいあ The Animation
Genre: Comedy, supernatural
Episodes: 12
Producer: GonzoThoughts: I like cats, but not this much. I may regret this later on, turning it down because of the cat overdose and the sticky-sweet art style, but for now, it’s tossed to the side. In a way, though, the PVs music and sound effects kind of remind me of the game Castle Crashers, which I really like.

Mayo Chiki!

Japanese title: まよチキ！
Genre: Comedy, romance
Episodes: 12
Producer: FeelThoughts: A girl who’s really a boy, in a school setting!? How unoriginal! I’m also not feeling the ecchi vibe that the PV gives off.

R-15

Genre: Comedy, Romance, Harem
Episodes: 12
Producer: AICThoughts: See my thoughts on Uta no Prince-sama. Oh, and another interesting note about this: the male protagonist is a porn novel writer.

Japanese title: ぬらりひょんの孫 千年魔京
Genre: Action, supernatural
Episodes: 12
Producer: Studio DEENThoughts: The samurai guy has weirdly long hair that sticks up horizontally behind him. And what’s with the PV being in mostly black and white? Is that how the art style will really be? It looks cool for effect in the PV….I guess. The young male protagonist also sounds pretty lame. Who wouldn’t want these warrior people hanging around and opt for a “normal” life instead?

4 thoughts on “Summer 2011 Preview”

You put a lot of thought on this! I’m the opposite as I tend to choose which animes to try mostly in a whim. Although one of the main reasoms is because with the exception of when it gives me very strong bad vibes, I prefer to actually try it and see how it goes, as something may sound or looks very bad and end up interesting.

I see you liked Baka Test a lot. I may give season 2 a try but so far didn’t like much the first season nor the OVA. It’s jokes tend to more often than not feel as stupid rather than funny to me. But I guess that’s what comedy is all about, if it’s not the kind of comedy someone likes it pass as supid to them. I don’t think you have to worry about it going into a serious direction… with it’s setting there isn’t much it can do to become serious.

Yeah…it took much much longer and required more miniscule tasks than I originally thought I would. Now I know why not many people do full season reviews, along with videos and/or pictures. I used to pick my shows the way you do, but have gotten more worried about missing out on shows that I would have really enjoyed.

I certainly hope your assumptions about Baka to Test are correct! I’m pretty excited about it finally airing, though it does make complete sense to me why its humor definitely isn’t for everyone. Your brain is not needed to understand the jokes :p

You did a good job of voicing your thoughts on each show and I think you gave them all pretty fair judgement. But that might be because we seem to be interested in the virtually all the same shows this summer. Should be a pretty fun season, it seems.

Thanks🙂 And of course, you did give me the great idea of using PV clips! Sheesh, it’s kind of hard to find ones that I actually want to use, since plenty of them have terrible visual quality. I agree that this season is looking out to be very enjoyable.